Stargazing in the Desert

WORKSHEET

1. Suggested Use 

Science and discovery focus, followed by closed practice B1+-level vocabulary and grammar activities.

2. Suggested Activities 

A. Project-based learning
Students create a mini astronomy exhibition for their country or local area. After reading or watching the video, they work in small groups to research what constellations or planets are visible from where they live, the best time of year to see them, what tools people need to see them and why people enjoy looking at the stars. Each group presents their project as a poster, brochure, or short video, using language from the script.

B. Mediation task: Relaying specific information (+ note taking)
Students imagine they joined the stargazing trip in Kuwait and are sending a voice note or short message to a friend describing what they experienced. They read the script, take notes, and summarise key points in 3–4 sentences, focusing on where it happened, what people did, what they saw and what they learned.

C. Pronunciation task: Word stress 
Focus on pronunciation of scientific and descriptive words from the script, e.g. galaxy, planet, telescope, constellation, centuries etc. Have students identify the science-related words and find the stress pattern of each. Have them practise the pronunciation by highlighting or underlining the sound in the word, then writing example sentences using the words in context. 

3. Vocabulary 

Astronomy 

• telescope

• galaxy

• planet

• moon

• stars

• constellation

• craters

• sky

• universe

• stargazer

Adjectives

• calm

• quiet

• clear

• modern

• wonderful

• powerful

• sharp

Other

• wonders

• explorers

• centuries

• pass on

4. Grammar

Present continuous:
they are also learning about the wonders of the universe; they are using are very modern …

Present perfect:
… to find direction in the desert …

Gerunds:
Seeing the galaxy on your phone is …; seeing beautiful sights …

Inversion:
What makes the telescope special is that it …

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TRANSCRIPT
Stargazing in the Desert

NARRATOR:
The desert in Kuwait is calm and quiet. Far from city lights, it is one of the best places in the country to see the stars. Many stargazers come here to explore the night sky. Some are beginners, others are experienced, but all share the same excitement. They set up telescopes so they can see the stars more clearly when night falls.

This trip is organized by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences. The team explains how the telescopes work and what to look for. The telescopes they are using are very modern and powerful.

SOUNDBITE - Abdullah al-Anzi:
"What makes the telescope special is that it gives you a clear image of the galaxy and you can connect it to your mobile phone. At the end of each trip, we share these images with the participants. Seeing the galaxy on your phone is a wonderful thing."

NARRATOR:
Soon, the sun sets and the first stars begin to shine. Through the telescopes, the craters on the moon appear sharp and clear. If the sky is clear, they will even see planets like Jupiter or Saturn. Participants also learn to find constellations — groups of stars that make patterns in the sky. These patterns have been used for centuries to find direction in the desert. Tonight, the same skill is passed on to a new generation of explorers. Under the dark sky, these stargazers are not only seeing beautiful sights — they are also learning about the wonders of the universe.